There is no shortage of thrift stores in Abbotsford, B.C., offering more equitable and sustainable clothing options for university students. A small but beautifully decorated thrift store known as Hidden Treasures is a great local option for students looking for trendy pieces to wear on campus, without paying the full retail price.
Located in historic downtown Abbotsford at 2657 W Railway St., Hidden Treasures is a predominantly volunteer-run organization that helps their community in several ways.
The store itself is well-lit, with items displayed beautifully throughout the store, which is aesthetically pleasing and affordable. They have their clothing divided by sections and colours and carry a lot of trendy clothing that are gently used or brand new. There were a lot of items with the tags still attached in the clothing section and included brand names such as Coach, Zara, Lululemon, and Columbia. There were a lot of shoes, boots, and accessories that were in good condition as well.
The store manager, Maggie Klassen, has been working at the Abbotsford location since 2018. She graciously sat down for an interview on what she has noticed about university students coming to her store.
“We have a fair bit of university students that come in here to shop, as well as high school students. We’ve definitely seen an increase since COVID-19,” said Klassen.
Klassen also stated that students gravitate toward “mostly clothes, movies, records, and specialty items.”
She adds: “We definitely see more of them around during seasonal events like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Thanksgiving. Every now and again, they are very interested in vintage. It just depends on what kind [of] vintage they are looking for.”
In terms of sales, Klassen explains how Hidden Treasures works: “We always have a select number of clothes for 50 per cent off during the week, and we have other specials we do throughout the month. So, there is always some sort of discount available to them.”
About 25 percent of Hidden Treasures’s stock are brand new items that come from various boutiques and a specialty warehouse that the thrift store has contracts with. Klassen also adds that her staff always cut the original price tag in half when they sell it on the floor.
According to Klassen, Hidden Treasures is also helping flood victims: “Last week, as a matter of fact, we handed out over $700 worth of stuff to flood victims in need, and we help homeless people on a regular basis … we have lots of people donating right now to help flood victims. So, we are getting more things ready and any single family that is in need that comes in, we give them [merchandise] for free if they are in a flood zone right now.”
Hidden Treasures further helps their community with the funds they raise, and one of the ways is through their parent organization, M2/W2.
M2/W2 is a Christian organization that focuses on helping “inmates integrate back into society and when they are on parole.”
“We try to help them with clothes and whatever they need to get started.” Klassen explains that Hidden Treasures aids them in helping to find work and settle back into society after being released on parole.
“[We] try to connect with them in prison first and we also give them a chance to come here and work here…once they are released from prison on good behaviour.”
Klassen believes that the best aspect of her job is decorating the store, creating a peaceful atmosphere for shoppers and artfully displaying the merchandise.
She ends the interview by saying: “There’s a reason why we’re called Hidden Treasures. We have so many different areas of things hidden everywhere, and we want people to come in and browse and have fun looking around. It’s not a Walmart … you just don’t go in and find 20 of the same things for the same price. You have to go and look around and many people find their hidden treasure every day.”
Image: Hidden Treasures Facebook
Rachel is working towards a BA with a concentration in English and Theatre. She has been employed at The Cascade since Fall 2021 as a Staff Writer and a Jr. News Editor. Currently, she is the sectional News Editor and enjoys meeting and interviewing people as well as taking long walks in nature. Rachel also likes to stay up to date on the latest trends and informs students through her fashion column entitled Campus Fashion.
